You could also start meeting people in the real-estate scene or maybe find a real-estate related internship. 

@Dj Humethx for the comment. i should have made a stronger empahsis as to inlaws to the point where I dont mind buying the house for her. so no problem there.I ultimately wanted to experience the investing scene for the next year or 2 because by 2021 i should have appx 350k saved up to buy my own in nyc. and also hoping the market goes down slightly esp in the nyc suburb's.

Whether they help "behind the scenes" or not, you've got someone to ask questions and guide along the way.

I feel like I need to print all the documents and do the crime scene red string on the wall to figure it all out.

Crime scene, foundation issues, title issues, condemned. 

I'll add a couple that were 'nightmarish' but not haunted.1986 - The Money Pit    1990- Pacific Heights     And a couple relating to the housing collapse 2014-  99 Homes     2015- The Big Short            

I am not sure if the deal is still around or what you've done with it, but here's how to tackle these...Call a local broker and get an agent on the scene to take pictures and do a CMA on the property both "as is" and for the ARV (after repair value). 

I'm relatively new to the real estate investing scene with any true vision for the possibilities it holds, and the recent weeks I've been able to spend trying to wrap my head around it all has already started some major changes.

I like the booming tech scene that they've got going on down there.

@Josh Smith check the tech startup scene, economic growth in general, areas near universities, popular airbnb locations—check airbnb website for research purposes.